Lifestyle Perspective on Naturopathic Health
Ever wonder why some people are prone to getting sick and others are not? Illness doesn’t just hit an unlucky person out of the blue. We can set ourselves up for illness depending on the diet and lifestyle choices we make.
| Proper internal and external hygiene is important to prevent illness. Internal hygiene includes eating foods found in nature. Our health begins in the digestive tract. Why? Because that is where all nutrients are taken in and absorbed. These nutrients are what feed and fuel all of the cells that make up our body’s tissues, organs, nerves, arteries, veins etc. What you put into your mouth therefore, affects every cell in your body. Our nutrition needs to come from whole foods in their natural form as opposed to those synthesized in a lab. One of the healthiest breakfasts is a green smoothie. This is made by blending a handful of greens, water and berries, apple or pear in the blender. Greens are full of alkaline minerals, essential fats, enzymes and chlorophyll, which cleanses the blood. The fruit sweetens the greens to make it palatable. For the rest of the meals try to eat mostly vegetables grown locally and in season. The plate should be 60-80% vegetables with plenty of dark green leaves, 10-20% whole grains like rice or yams and 10-20% legumes, organic meat or wild fish. Avoid coffee, pop, alcohol, and fast and processed foods because they are acidic and inflammatory which sets us up for disease. It is our internal state of health determined by our diet that dictates which diseases or illnesses we are susceptible to. Apart from food, what else affects our internal environment? |
Our lifestyle has an impact which includes exercise, water, alcohol, drug consumption and our subconscious thoughts, beliefs and perceptions. Some basic lifestyle practices that can be done every day to improve health include: dry skin brushing before showering or before bed which helps slough off dead toxic skin and moves the lymphatic flow, which is part of our detoxification system. Rebound on a rebounder or mini trampoline to get the heart rate up and move the lymph. Drink half your body weight in ounces of alkaline filtered water each day. Sleep at least eight hours per night in a pitch black room to properly repair all damage and regulate the pineal gland, the master of the hormonal system. Take 100 deep breaths per day which increases oxygenation to all the cells and helps to detoxify. Soak the feet in warm water with nettle juice to enhance detoxification. Work up a sweat every day either in exercise or in a sauna in order to detoxify. Finish showers with cold water to enhance the body's ability to adapt to temperature changes without getting sick. Ensure that you have daily bowel movements and, if you don't, take natural products to help move the bowels and have colonic irrigation. The bowel becomes filled with toxic fecal tar which needs to be removed. Use only natural products on your body as the skin absorbs everything and chemicals are toxic.
And finally, find out what you need to do to feed your soul. We need this passion in our lives to keep us inspired and optimistic. Let's look at our body as a sophisticated machine like an expensive car. Most people would want to fill this car with the best grade of fuel. Just like a luxury car, our bodies require the best form of fuel to keep us in optimal health. By Dr. Terrie Van Alstyne, N.D. Naturopathic Doctor |
All content on this site owned by ISLAND TIMES MAGAZINE. Any use of this information without permission is not permitted.
Site Created by Aarbo Design Hosted by Aarbo Design
